Officials are looking at sending 800 troops, but one official called that estimate “the floor” – saying it could increase as military planners work through the request from DHS to help the Border Patrol.

The formal approval comes after President Trump announced earlier he’s “bringing out the military” to address what he’s calling a national emergency at the border. Thousands of Central American migrants are now making their way through Mexico in hopes of reaching the United States.

The additional troops are to provide what one official described as logistical support to the Border Patrol. The support troops would include engineers, as well as medical and aviation support units.

A statement from the Pentagon clarified that the additional troops would not be used to physically detain the migrants, but would instead be offering “assistance” and “engineering support,” along with some other aspects.

The statement read: “The DoD will provide Defense Support of Civil Authorities with planning assistance, engineering support (temporary barriers, barricades, and fencing), fixed and rotary wing aviation support to move CBP personnel, medical teams to triage, treat and prepare for commercial transport of patients, command and control facilities, temporary housing for CBP personnel, and personal protective equipment for CBP personnel.”

The idea of stationing troops at the border was contested by several liberal parties as a perceived violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which Fox News reports “prohibits the federal government from using the armed forces in a domestic police role.”

But, because the troops are not enforcing national immigration laws, they are not fulfilling a “police role” and thus do not violate the federal law.

The migrant caravan has been used repeatedly by the Trump administration in calls for tighter, more restrictive immigration laws. President Trump even petitioned voters to “vote red” in the upcoming congressional elections so Republicans can maintain majorities in both legislative chambers — which would then further Trump’s immigration policies and border wall funding.

The United States has been spending Billions of Dollars a year on Illegal Immigration. This will not continue. Democrats must give us the votes to pass strong (but fair) laws. If not, we will be forced to play a much tougher hand.

Trump also threatened that he would be “cutting off, or substantially reducing” foreign aid to countries which allowed the caravan to freely pass through it:

Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.